Preliminary Investigations Into the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Equine Leucoencephalomalacia
Haliburton, John Charles
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/71297
Description
Title
Preliminary Investigations Into the Etiology and Pathogenesis of Equine Leucoencephalomalacia
Author(s)
Haliburton, John Charles
Issue Date
1982
Department of Study
Veterinary Medical Science
Discipline
Veterinary Medical Science
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Veterinary Science
Abstract
Equine leucoencephalomalacis (ELEM) is a fungal-related (Fusarium moniliforme) disease which tends to occur in sporadic seasonal outbreaks in the United States. ELEM is most frequently seen between November and March following corn growing seasons marked by an early to mid-seasonal drought followed by wet and humid conditions accompanied by moderate to cool fluctuating temperatures prior to harvest. The naturally occurring disease syndrome is usually manifested by an acute neurologic disorder, death, and leucomalacia in one or both of the cerebral hemispheres.
In this project numerous experiments were conducted with donkeys, ponies, horses, pigs, rabbits, and ducklings in an attempt to characterize the etiology and pathogenesis of ELEM.
The signs and lesions characteristic of those typically seen in naturally occurring cases of ELEM were seen in 1 donkey that was fed corn that had been inoculated with an isolate of F. moniliforme recovered from a field outbreak of ELEM. A hepatotoxic form of ELEM, only reported in one other experimental study, was seen in 2 donkeys and 1 pony also given the experimentally inoculated corn. The hepatotoxic syndrome was manifested by an acute and rapidly progressive illness characterized by anorexia, jaundice, lethargy, ataxia, diaphoresis, stupor, recumbency, coma, and death. Centrilobular hepatocellular necrosis and periportal fibrosis were the principal lesions seen in the equids that died from hepatotoxic ELEM.
Moniliformin, one of two known mycotoxins produced by F. moniliforme, was shown to be highly toxic to equids and ducklings when given orally or intravenously. The clinical signs and lesions seen in the moniliformin poisoned animals included acute death with no premonitory signs and multifocal myocardial degeneration and early necrosis and marked pulmonary edema and congestion. Two other chemical metabolites produced by F. moniliforme, fusaric acid and 2-methoxy,4-ethyl carbolic acid, were studied in equids and neither appeared to be highly toxic.
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